I didn't even know what a tagine was until we walked into a Le Creuset outlet store this past weekend. The assistant manager showed us how to cook with it and I found the cookbook Tagines & Couscous on their shelf. After flipping through a few pages of their mouth watering recipes, we both said SOLD!

On the 40 minute drive home, while Cedar was singing to reggae, Boho Boy and I were talking about our new purchase and what we would fill it up with. I read to him out loud the recipes and it was such a pleasurable experience. Lots of "mmmm's" and deep gasps. We dreamed about making a huge feast for our friends when we live out in the country. Hanging lights and lanterns and fabrics with music...and mouth watering food cooking in colorful tagines.

Later that evening was the first time we cooked together in a long while. I broke open a bottle of Sangria...the only alcohol we had in the house since we don't drink much anymore. At one point he hugged me from behind, kissed me on the neck and told me he wanted to experience more of this passion with food, together. I do too.

I am so in love with the combination of spices in Moroccan dishes: turmeric, cinnamon, cayenne, cumin seeds...mmmmm.

Tonight I made a tagine with carrots and garbanzo beans, onions, garlic, (the spices above) and plain soy yogurt...sprinkled with cilantro, fresh lemon juice and rose water. I served it with buttered bread to relieve our tongues from the gloriously intense spice!